Keith Urban shared childhood photos and memories with his family as he redefined the meaning of the word “hometown” on Friday (August 2).
The globally-beloved country star released the latest track from his forthcoming album, “Heart Like A Hometown.” Urban said “when I was a kid, our family moved around a lot,” having lived in nine different houses and attended four schools by the time he was in fifth grade, per his record label. That meant Urban defined “hometown” by his family and loved ones who surrounded him, rather than a specific location.
Urban said “a ‘hometown’ felt more about my family, and a place inside of me, somewhere I could find my center. It’s a theme that’s always spoken to me. Songs like Don Williams’ ‘If Hollywood Don’t Need You’ and Glen Campbell’s ‘Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in LA)’ and a song I recorded on my FUSE album, ‘Come Back To Me.’ Those songs and this one all share a similar feeling, a kind of grounded safety, familiarity and a place where I can always find ME.”
“Heart Like A Hometown” is the latest song to release from Urban’s upcoming 12-track record, HIGH. It follows “Straight Line,” “Messed Up As Me,” “Wildside” and “Go Home W U,” a duet featuring reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson. Urban announced HIGH in late June. He explained at that time that it’s “the result of a prior record I started in 2022. It’s 40 minutes top to bottom, and is completely expressive, true, honest and is so much more of what I actually wanted to say when making that scrapped record. I hope these songs bring you joy, levity, some new understanding, energy, and escape!”
- “BLUE SKY” (PRELUDE)
- STRAIGHT LINE
- MESSED UP AS ME
- WILDSIDE
- GO HOME W U (WITH LAINEY WILSON)
- CHUCK TAYLORS
- DAYTONA
- LOVE IS HARD
- HEART LIKE A HOMETOWN
- LAUGHIN’ ALL THE WAY TO THE DRANK
- DODGE IN A SILVERADO
- BREAK THE CHAIN
“When I’m writing a song, or when I’m in the studio recording it, or even when its coming to life on the stage, it’s the same feeling of being ‘in the flow.’ It’s timeless, it’s weightless – and I feel euphoric – I feel HIGH,” Urban said of his upcoming album, per his record label. “What makes you ‘high’ can mean whatever you want it to mean. It might be physical, spiritual, herbal, meditative, chemical or musical, but it’s definitely a place of utopia.”
Urban is gearing up for a growing list of performances on the horizon, including taking the stage at the 17th ACM Honors later this month in Nashville, Tennessee, and a 10-night run at Fontainebleau Las Vegas in October 2024 and February 2025.
- Friday, October 04, 2024
- Saturday, October 05, 2024
- Wednesday, October 09, 2024
- Friday, October 11, 2024
- Saturday, October 12, 2024
- Friday, February 14, 2025
- Saturday, February 15, 2025
- Wednesday, February 19, 2025
- Friday, February 21, 2025
- Saturday, February 22, 2025
Urban is one of many artists taking the stage at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Festival, returning to the T-Mobile Arena stage on September 20 and 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Other artists in the genre-spanning lineup include Big Sean, Camila Cabello, Doja Cat, Gwen Stefani, Hozier, Thomas Rhett, New Kids on the Block, Paramore, Shaboozey, The Black Crowes, Victoria Monét, and more. Ryan Seacrest will host the two-day festival. Tickets are available to the general public now on AXS.com.
HIGH is set to release on September 20.